Chapter 4 – The Skill Of Making A Move (Part 4)

By the time Lorraine reached the study, Edwin was already prepared to leave.

“Handle any urgent matters as you see fit. I probably won’t be back tonight.”

After giving his orders, he handed a few file folders to Philip.

Watching the situation, Lorraine cautiously approached Philip and asked.

“What’s going on?”

“Ah, well….”

Philip glanced at Edwin before cautiously opening his mouth.

“It seems Marquis Gillas has… disappeared from the safe house.”

Just as Lorraine was about to ask more, Edwin called Philip’s name.

“Philip Lloyd.”

“Yes, yes.”

‘Can’t even share this much information?’

Philip, whose eyebrows were furrowed in worry, met Lorraine’s eyes and shook his head.

“Wiig.”

Edwin put on the jacket that was hanging on the coat rack.

“Philip will also be away for a few days, so don’t leave your post and turn away any visitors.”

“Yes.”

As Lorraine obediently answered, Edwin stared at her for a moment. Just as he seemed about to say something, someone knocked on the door.

“Your Grace, the carriage is ready.”

“…Let’s go.”

At Edwin’s command, Philip quickly grabbed his jacket and followed him out.

“Take care. I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes, have a safe trip.”

Once the door closed, the spacious study fell silent again. Lorraine immediately checked Philip’s desk.

‘Just because they won’t tell me doesn’t mean I can’t find out.’

After rummaging through the desk for a while, Lorraine quickly found the telegram from the palace.

<Marquis of Gillas missing, last seen at Lantil Central Station.>

“This is serious….”

Lorraine muttered as she placed the telegram back in its place.

The disappearance was one thing, but the last known location was the real issue. Lantil Central Station was where trains bound for the entire Moses region were always on standby.

In other words, if they missed him once, they might never catch him again.

***

Contrary to Lorraine’s worries, Edwin was glaring at the person sitting across from him with a weary face.

“So, you’re saying you went to the market.”

Edwin looked at Marquis Gillas with eyes that clearly said he didn’t believe him. Marquis Gillas shrugged, twirling his neatly trimmed mustache.

“When I visit another country, I always make it a habit to visit the local market. It seems I missed informing you this time.”

In essence, he was saying that today’s disappearance was his own fault. Edwin let out an exasperated sigh.

“Ha!”

Despite Edwin’s fierce gaze, the Marquis of Gillas nonchalantly extended his hand backward. His aide, standing beside him, quickly took out a cigar from his pocket and handed it over.

Watching their interaction, Edwin recalled the frantic hours earlier.

The Marquis’s arrival was kept secret, so Edwin couldn’t mobilize the military. Thus, he had no choice but to search for the Marquis with a few of his subordinates.

「Find him with as little commotion as possible.」

「Yes, sir.」

However, the problem was that Lantil, the capital, was a massive city with twelve districts. Fortunately, they managed to locate the Marquis not far away.

「We’ve found him, Your Grace. He’s at the 4th district.」

Riding swiftly to the location, Edwin found the Marquis held by his subordinate. The Marquis, smiling as if nothing had happened, asked,

「What’s the matter? Why are you searching for me so urgently?」

Philip let out an exasperated sigh.

「One of the terms was not to evade the guards, wasn’t it?」

When Edwin, with a fierce look, questioned him, the Marquis lightly shook off the firm grip of the guards and replied,

「Well, you’ve found me now, haven’t you? Let’s go back.」

As he headed towards the carriage that Philip had arranged, Edwin, unable to hold back any longer, leaned in and whispered in his ear.

「If something like this happens again, I won’t tolerate it.」

「…….」

「We’ll discuss this further at the residence.」

Standing up straight, Edwin nodded, and the nearby guards grabbed the Marquis’s arms and escorted him into the carriage.

He was indeed a cunning old man.

Edwin thought that Marquis Gillas hadn’t survived by the side of the notoriously difficult Emperor Fontaine for nothing.

“Are you here for a vacation? You’re the one who asked us to find someone.”

Despite Edwin’s pressing, the Marquis of Gillas lit the end of his cigar with a calm face.

“Oh, that matter. It turns out he left the country.”

After taking a deep puff of his cigar, he paused and then looked at Edwin with clear, sharp eyes.

“Just set a departure date, and I’ll leave whenever.”

“Now, that’s….”

What a brazen man.

Edwin rubbed his throbbing temples. The Marquis shrugged nonchalantly.

“The sooner I leave, the better it is for you and the royal family, isn’t it?”

“…Until your departure, your movements will be restricted to this residence.”

Although he hadn’t meant to provoke, the Marquis’s unruffled face was infuriating.

“I’ll increase the number of guards and have you separated from your aide until your departure.”

Despite the near house arrest, the Marquis’s face didn’t show a crack.

However, Edwin felt some satisfaction when he saw the crumpled face of the aide standing behind the marquis.

As he stood up, he said.

“Then, I’ll return to set the departure date.”

The only response was a puff of cigar smoke.

***

“No matter how I think about it, something’s off.”

On the way back to the residence, Philip cautiously voiced his opinion, watching Edwin.

Edwin, who had been looking out the window, turned his head. Even in the dim light of the carriage, his golden eyes were clearly visible.

“Regardless of the situation, he’s someone who left Fontaine and came to Moses holding his mother’s hand.”

“…….”

“Then why did he leave?”

Philip rubbed his chin, letting out a small hum. Edwin’s tightly closed lips finally opened.

“There’s no certainty. The Marquis of Gillas might be using that as an excuse to cover his own flaws.”

Philip nodded as he listened to Edwin.

“Yes, that makes sense.”

Even so, there were no clear answers.

Edwin removed one glove and loosened his cravat. After exhaling once, he asked Philip again.

“At the station.”

They didn’t know why the marquis had gone to Lantil Central Station, but they needed to find out what he had done there. His subordinates were investigating the station staff.

“It’s right before the holiday season. And it’s Friday.”

Philip smiled awkwardly, making Edwin turn his cold gaze away and accurately point out.

“…So, there’s been no progress.”

Philip scratched his neck in embarrassment and replied,

“I’ll push them to proceed as quickly as possible.”

Regardless of the situation, there was someone waiting for him at the palace.

Edwin tapped the roof of the carriage twice.

“Let’s head to the palace.”

“Yes, sir.”

Another night of overtime.

Philip thought, swallowing a sigh.

***

“…With the warm breeze of Porturellu, Olivia.”

Victoria solemnly folded the letter after reading the last paragraph.

A moment of silence filled the living room. The quietness was only broken by her father, David Wiig.

“I was worried, but it’s good to hear she’s doing well, isn’t it?”

“Yes, indeed. You can almost hear her excited voice through the letter.”

Her mother, Deborah, flipped through the letter Victoria handed her.

The letter, densely written from the first page to the last, fluttered in Deborah’s hands before being neatly folded and placed back into the envelope.

“Who will write the reply?”

Handing the thickened envelope back to Victoria, she looked around at her daughters. Two pairs of bright blue eyes met in the air.

The answer came simultaneously from both.

“Older Sister will.”

“Sister will.”

“Again, pushing the bothersome task onto your sister.”

Despite Deborah’s scolding, the two of them just giggled. Then David, who had been sitting quietly, spoke in a stern voice.

“Victoria, you write the reply this time.”

“Ah, Father….”

Victoria easily gave up resisting at the sound of David clicking his tongue.

“I’ll check with the butler, so be aware.”

“…Yes.”

Clearing his throat, he stood up.

David avoided using his cane as much as possible at home. As a result, even the short distance to the door took quite some time.

Unable to watch any longer, Deborah took her husband’s arm to support him and said,

“Let’s go together.”

She grabbed her husband’s arm and started walking, glancing back over her shoulder.

“Do as your father says.”